Menu Close

Planning Your First Trip to Rome? Avoid These 6 Mistakes

Rome is a city high on many a travel bucket list. The Eternal City is popular for good reason! It’s chock-full of incredible history, art, architecture, and top Italian cuisine. But many first time visitors to Rome end up making mistakes that can turn that bucket list into a bucket of disappointment.

Mistakes to avoid on a first trip to Rome - thinking the Trevi fountain won't be packed with tourists
This is a light day for tourists crowding the famous Trevi Fountain. The only time to enjoy it (nearly) empty is at dawn or in the off season.

Mistake 1: Not Spending Enough Time in Rome

Low angle view in dramatic morning light of Villa Dori Pamphilj in Rome
Villa Doria Pamphilj in its namesake park – just one of many gems that can be enjoyed on a longer visit.

Rome isn’t the only city topping Italy travel itineraries. Whether an independently planned travel itinerary or a group tour, Rome is often only allotted a mere two or three nights. With only 1 or 2 full days in Rome, you simply won’t have time to dig below the major tourist attractions.

And what a tragedy that is! While the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Pantheon are indeed amazing, leaving out the lesser known (but just as incredible) Rome sights is like eating two bites of gelato then throwing it away.

By spending at least 3-4 days in Rome, you can add lesser known sights, roam neighborhoods at leisure, or add in nearby day trip destinations like Tivoli, Ostia Antica, or Frascati.

In a city besieged by nearly endless waves of tourists, many of whom only hit the main tourist track, going beyond that track reveals a side of Rome that shouldn’t be missed. Smaller specialty museums, quiet corners, and small businesses away from the tourist center offer richly rewarding experiences.

Mistake 2: Over Scheduling Your Rome Itinerary

Scheduling every minute of your time while visiting Rome is a critical mistake. In fact, it’s generally a mistake no matter what travel destination you’re headed to. With every moment accounted for, there’s no time for spontaneity or roaming exploration. Be sure to always allow extra time between planned activities – traffic and public transport delays can have you running late and create a cascading itinerary disaster.

Another benefit of allowing extra time between activities on your Rome itinerary, is that you can linger in a place you’re really enjoying or even make a detour to something that has captured your interest. The ideal balance is to plan enough for practical structure, ensuring you can visit popular sights (some may require purchasing tickets in advance) while remaining flexible.

Popular with locals but not well known to most tourists, the views from Gianicolo Hill are some of the best in the entire city. And how could you want to rush taking in this view?
Don't miss out!
Keep Up With Wanderstruck

Subscribe to be front-of-the-line for travel and photography content, deals, and news

Invalid email address

Mistake 3: Forgetting Rome is a Big City

Don’t fall victim to the dreaded Instagram vs Reality. Rome is absolutely a magical place, but it is also a big city with many of the caveats that come with that. In addition to its population of over four million, there were over TEN MILLION TOURIST VISITS to Rome in 2019. Numbers for 2022 aren’t in yet, but it’s sure to rebound to 2019 levels or higher before long.

Rome is generally a safe city to visit, but like many major tourist cities, pickpockets are notorious. Practicing good travel safety practices and paying attention to your surroundings – especially around major tourist sights – is essential. There’s no need to be paranoid, just use proper precautions.

And yes, there will be trash, graffiti, grit, noise and a homeless population. Issues with trash peak during the high season, particularly as a day wears on. Tents can be seen along the Tiber river, and there are quite a lot of homeless people around Termini. Generally this is not a safety issue but may be distressing to witness.

Mistake 4: Visiting at the Wrong Time

Following on the reminder that Rome is a major city and the most visited city in Italy, choosing the right time for a first trip to Rome is crucial. Of all the months to avoid visiting Rome – first time or not – August is definitely the worst month to visit Rome.

young woman in light green polka dot sundress smiles in front of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy on a sunny day
Smiling but also melting in my favorite city – two showers a day is not out of the question in summer months!

Not only is it one of the hottest months, it’s also when Ferragosto happens – the annual vacation month for Italians. Many businesses close, usually for at least two weeks and often for the entire month. Some sights may be closed or have reduced hours, and there will be far fewer restaurants and shops to choose from.

If at all possible, I recommend avoiding a visit to Rome from June through the first week of September. It’s peak season, meaning the greatest amount of tourists descending on the city and higher prices, longer lines, and increasingly hot weather. Rome is a city ideally explored on foot, and if you’re flirting with heatstroke the magic of the city begins to evaporate. Unlike your sweat, because it will probably be humid too.

The best time of year to visit Rome is in the shoulder season and off season. For the best combination of weather, prices, and crowds try to make your first trip to Rome in the Spring or Fall.

Even winter can be a fun time to visit – in December the Christmas displays start going up, and come February there are often events related to Carnevale. Prices will spike a bit during those times (particularly from right before Christmas through New Year), but it’s a unique way to experience the city and even if there are some crowds at least you won’t be melting!

Even with 3 or 4 full days to visit Rome, you could pretty much fill those with the most famous sights and piazzas. With a bit of careful travel planning, you can cover the major Rome tourist attractions without rushing over the course of one or two days. Many lesser known sights are near the major ones, so mixing these in is actually pretty easy.

For example, the Colosseum and Roman Forum are right next to each other. Allow about two hours for both of these – you can visit independently on the 16 Euro combined ticket or book a guided tour if you like more historical context. Right nearby you’ll find the spectacular Vittorio Emanuele monument, which has some of the best views of Rome from its terraces. Piazza Campidoglio overlooks the Roman Forum, and is surrounded by the Capitoline Museums – one of the best museums in Rome and a must for any museum and history lover.

Rome's colosseum viewed under cloudy skies from the lower terraces of Vittorio Emanuele monument
One of many spectacular views from the terraces of Vittorio Emanuele

Many on a first-time travelers to Rome make the mistake of succumbing to FOMO – visiting certain sights because they feel like the HAVE to. If something genuinely doesn’t interest you, consider skipping it. If you loathe traditional museums, skip the Vatican Museums and search out another choice better suited to your interests. Take a cooking class or visit one of Rome’s more offbeat museums.

Mistake 6: Eating in Tourist Restaurants

One of the most tragic errors is falling victim to a tourist restaurant. A general rule of advice when traveling anywhere, is to avoid restaurants next to main tourist sights. These typically are churn-and-burn places, catering to a tourist palate and charging a premium prices. In Rome it can be hard to avoid eating next to tourist attractions, since the city is chock-full of them.

dusk scene by Rome's pantheon showing tourists and diners in the piazza
There’s no denying the atmosphere of dining with this view – but the restaurants serve a touristic menu at tourist prices

While dining with a view of the Colosseum or Pantheon is inarguably iconic, if you choose to do so keep your expectations low. Often the cuisine and service will be middling but if you must do it consider a place where you can go for an Aperitivo. Not only will this be friendlier to your wallet, you can then dine at a more authentic restaurant later.

The biggest restaurant red flags are: waiters outside trying to lure customers in, massive menus, menus posted outside in multiple languages, and menus with photos. Also, any offering of Fettuccine Alfredo, Caesar Salad, or Chicken Parmesan is an immediate no: none of those dishes are from Italy. Many Italians don’t go to dinner until 8:00 or later, so if a restaurant looks empty at 7:00 that isn’t a bad sign.

italian cuisine in a charming setting at Rome restaurant Meridionale
Tucked away from the tourists in Trastevere, my newest favorite Rome restaurant Meridionale

It’s definitely recommended to book ahead in high season when available. More restaurants are offering online reservations, or you can ask when walking by at the start of your time in Rome. If you are staying in a hotel you can also ask the staff to call for you to make a reservation.

Don’t miss trying pizza a taglio, which is pizza by the slice. These won’t be the triangle slices you see stateside, but rectangles cut to size that are easy to hold and perfect for a quick snack. Be aware that sitting on fountains or steps to eat can earn you a hefty fine.

Planning a Trip to Rome

If you have no choice but to go during the high season (including holiday periods like Christmas or Easter), book well in advance. For hotels and flights, absolutely no less than 6 months ahead in order to have the best selection to choose from and avoid last minute pricing. For shoulder season (Spring and Fall) 4 months is the cutoff, whereas in off-season you can get away with 2-3 months ahead.

Booking tour guides or tour experiences should be done 2-3 months ahead in high season, and around 2-4 weeks ahead outside of that. If you have your heart set on a restaurant, e-mailing several weeks ahead is a good idea. This gives them time to respond to a reservation inquiry, and unless it’s a famous place, you’ll be able to secure a table well ahead of your trip.

learn to travel independently with confidence; friends and lovers watch a dramatic sunset over Rome, Italy from Janiculum Hill
Couples relax together as a dramatic sunset builds over the Eternal City

Doing at least some basic research ahead of time should not be skipped either. Find fellow travelers similar to you who have been to Rome and ask what they enjoyed most and what they probably could have skipped.

Check to be sure there aren’t any special events or holidays during your planned trip – Italians love their holidays and sights or some businesses may be closed on those days. Learning a few words of Italian will also be helpful, even if English is often spoken in the tourist center.

Beware of over-relying on social media in your trip planning process. Primarily using TikTok and Instagram to plan travel can lead to unpleasant surprises. It can be a great start for inspiration, but do extra research to make sure you don’t end up let down.

Travel Planning Help

If taking care of all the trip planning yourself sounds overwhelming (or even just tedious), I would absolutely love to be part of making your first Rome visit unforgettable.

19 Comments

    • Ella

      Funnily enough it took until my 3rd visit for me to fall in love! While I know it’s not for everyone I think a lot of people don’t get the best experience, which is super unfortunate.

  1. Claire

    I found I didn’t truly fall in love with Rome until I saw it at night! That was all the way back in 2016; I think I’m due to revisit. Thanks for these helpful tips!

    • Ella

      Honestly Rome didn’t capture me until my third trip. Timing is a big part of the equation. I hope you get to go back soon and have an amazing time!

  2. Danielle

    Even now having been to over 30 countries, my first day in Rome was the most culture shock I’ve ever experienced! That’s a big part of why your first tip is so important – you need time to acclimate!

  3. Hannah V

    I’ve only been to Rome for a 6 hour layover on the way to Egypt which was not long enough at all! This guide is so helpful with lots of useful tips and will be sure to use it when I visit next 🙂

  4. graliontorile

    Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to give one thing again and aid others such as you aided me.

  5. John Scramling

    Very nice post. I have been to Rome several times, but doing a longer trip soon. This post reinforced some of the things I had suspected. I agree with what you said about dining, but I just love the Pantheon and will still want to have dinner there with it in view!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.